The Action of Angels on Bodies

Superior rules inferior; hence angels rule the bodily world. St. Gregory says that in this visible world nothing occurs without the agency of invisible creatures.

Angels, however, have not power to produce or transform bodies at will. God alone gives first existence to things; after first creation, bodies come from bodies. But angels can stir bodily agencies to produce change in bodies.

Angels can directly control the local movement of bodies, for this is an accidental change in bodies, not a substantial production of bodies nor a substantial change.

Angels cannot, of themselves, work miracles. A miracle, by definition, is a work proper to God alone. Of course,angels can serve, even as holy men may serve, as ministers or instruments in the performing of miracles. Angels, good or bad, cando wonderful things, but only such as lie within the power of angelic nature, and a miracle surpasses the powers of all creatednatures.